The home of the Grand Canyon, sun-scorched Arizona showcases the American great outdoors at its most distinctive and impressive.
The Grand Canyon is the jewel in the crown of Arizona’s dramatic landscape and perhaps the nation’s best-known natural site.
Classed as of the seven natural wonders of the world, the canyon contains geological formations up to two billion years old and attracts visitors from all over the planet.
However, the canyon is just one of Arizona’s many attractions, which also include the world’s largest living science centre (Biosphere 2 at the University of Arizona, Tucson), and the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest (near Flagstaff), and the US’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead.
Other unique attractions in Arizona include Monument Valley, which is full of huge monument-like rock formations; Lake Powell, which covers 96 major canyons; the vast Hoover Dam, and the Painted Desert – so called for the colourfulness of its rocks.
State capital Phoenix is sixth largest city in the US, and its greater metropolitan area – ‘the Valley of the Sun’ – is the largest in the southwest.
Set against a dramatic mountain backdrop, Phoenix embraces its south-western heritage – think cowboys, cacti, steak, and country-western music – but is also very much a modern, multicultural metropolis. In particular, the city has a large Hispanic population, and Mexican culture and cuisine play a large part in its modern identity.
However, for all of its attractions, be warned that you should only consider study abroad in Arizona if you like it hot. Phoenix is the hottest major city in the US. Not only is the average daily temperature over 100°F (38°C) for three months of the year, but during heat waves, the thermometer can soar towards 120°F (49°C).
Arizona: Fast facts
• Located in south west of US; borders with California and Nevada to the west, Utah to the north, New Mexico to the east, and Mexico to the south
• One of the ‘Four Corners’ states; Arizona’s north-east corner meets the corners of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico
• Capital and largest city is Phoenix
• Five Arizonians appear in Forbes magazine’s 2012 list of billionaires
• Pop band the Jonas Brothers are from Casa Grande, Arizona
• Arizona has the largest percentage of land designated as Native American Tribal Land in the US
• The state has reported 17 different species of hummingbird within its boundaries
• With more than 3,900 mountain peaks, Arizona has more peaks than any of the other Mountain States
• The ‘five Cs’ – Cattle, Cotton, Citrus, Copper and Climate – have historically been central to the state’s economy
Top universities in Arizona
The University of Arizona (UA), ranked 163 in the 2011/12 QS World University Rankings, is based in Tucson.
UA has almost 40,000 students, including about 30,000 undergraduates, and is one of the 63 members of the Association of American Universities, which is invite-only.
Meanwhile, Arizona State University is located in Phoenix. It has more than 58,000 undergraduates enrolled, of which more than 20% come from outside the state, and more than 3% from outside the US.
Arizona’s third public four-year university, Northern Arizona University, is based in Flagstaff, but has a significant number of satellite campuses around the state. Its total enrolment is about 25,000, of which about 20,000 are undergraduates.
More states for those who like it hot:
